Rotary-type flow meter



Sept. 11 1928. y1,684,350

w. w. HAMILL ROTARY TYPE FLOW METER Filed Oct. l2. 1922 Fmi-7.

Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,684,359 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WILSON HAMILL, OIE' BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

. ROTARY-'TYPE FLOW METER.

Application led October 12, 1922, Serial No. 594,204, and in Great Britain October 26, 1921.

This invention relates to devices for measuring and indicating fluids and consists of certain novel features described in the accompanying specification, illustrated in the att-ached drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an instrument according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a central sectional elevation v at right angles to Figurel.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of a modified shape of the channel forming part of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows separately in elevation means for Calibrating the instrument shown in Figures 1 and 2. f I.

Figure 5 shows in elevation modified calibrating means.

Figure `6 is a view of one of the members of the gear train of the instrument shown in Figure 2 but fitted with a slipping clutch device.

Figure 7 .is a fragmentary view ofthe upper part of the instrument shown in Figure 1, showing venting means.

Figure 8 is another fragmentary view showing asump for deposit of foreign matter from the iuid.

In the drawings, the instrument comprises a main casing 1 with a glass or other transparent closure disc 2 retaining in fluid tight connect-ion therewith by a screwed' ring 3 and joint rings. Within the casing 1 is secured a rotor casing 5 divided in a plane at right angles to the axis and provided with an internal continuous channel 6 annular in contour and of constant cross sectional area, either circular, as shown in Figure 2, or square.V as in Figure 3, or of any other suitable shape. Screws 7 secure together the halves of the rotor casing 5 and screws 8 hold it in position in themain casing 1, provision being made to prevent distortion by abutments 9, 10, on lthe main casing 1 and rotorr casingv 5 respectively. The fluid enters the channel' by way of a duct 11 and leaves through a duct 12. said ducts 11, 12, being arranged tangential to the channel 6 so that the fluid follows a natural stream line course with a low frictional loss of head. Said inlet duct 11 and n outlet duct 12 are connected, respectively, to the inlet 37 and the outlet 38 of the casing 1 and are positioned in as close proximity to one another as convenient so that the segment of a circle through which the fluid is active approached in angular magnitude as near to 360o as the length of the idle or dead segment 13 will allow. Deviations from a true tangentl incur a corresponding loss of head.

Pivotally and concentrically mounted in the rotor casing 5 is a rotor 14 having a plurality of vanes 15 mutually connected by a narrow fiat annulus 16 and spokes 17 which pass `through a gap 18 in the inner periphery of the channel 6, 'said gap being as small as convenient. A minimum of three vanes is preferable, but more may be used and the shape of the working ends yof the vanes 15 on the rotor coincides with theftangential' arrangement of the. outlet vport 12 to assist the centrifugal action and facilitate ingress and egress of the fluid. Gearing 19 of'known type is used for communicating theimovement of the rotor 14 to an indicating finger 20 which moves ,over a graduated dial`21 ksecured in thev main casing 1A close to the glass cover 2. Said ,gearing and all the other moving parts are submergedV in the lfluid which passes through the instrument.

Slip between the active fluid and the rotor is minimized by making the clearance between the rotor and the channel as small as Aconvenient manufacturing tolerances will allow, and by adapting the surface of the varies to provide maximum opposition to present minimum friction to the fluid, Such slip astalres .place is provided for lby gearing up the normal index' reading and negating in an adjustable manner the ,effect of the gearing up. Adjusting means shown in Figure 4 consists of a brake of the-caliber ltype with arms 22 pivoted at 23 to a station-L the fiuid and the surfaceof the channel toV opposite extremity of the said arms 22. vAl- Y ternative regulable means compriser paddles 28 (Figure 5) attached to a rotating member 29 driven from or constituting one ofthe lelements of the gear train. The effective 'area presented by the paddles 28 may beI varied by changing their angular position on the rotating member to point in opposite directions relative to the direction of rotation. Each paddle 28 is mounted on a pivot 30 projecting radially from the hub of the rotating member 29 and is locked in ad justed position by a nut 31.

A friction device (Figure 6) may be used to allow slip to takeplace and damage to be avoided in case of locking of any of the moving parts, said device consisting of friction plate clutches 32 pressed by springs against the faces'of one ofV the gear train members 34. e Y e y To prevent normal operation in the case of Vliquids when the working fluid is removed, a sprag oi' detent' 35 may be arranged as shown in Figure 2 to engage with one of t-he gear train members, said' sprag or detent being automatically controlled by a float 36 which, for' the sake of convenience, is not shown in the correct positionV but about 90o removed therefrom.

To drive oil" or purge the casing of air which would interferewith the correct `Working of the instrument, the inlet 37 is ai' ranged below andpreferably in close proximity to the outlet 38 and a small How in the nature of a shunt or bypass is provided for, by arranging one or morevents, ports `or Vholes 39 (Figures 2 and `7) at the highest` points ofthe casing 1` andfextending from the forward portionofthe casing to the outlet 38 in which air or vapour can collect. The vent or vents 39 is orare of small `sectional area, such as those made by a Vthin saw slot, so tliat'they function asjvalves With the advantage that they require no attention. Cab ibi-ation maybe madeby varying the area of the vent and thereby controlling the volume of the fluid which passes therethrough conveniently by an/obturating screw.

Atthe bottomof the casing l means are provided for the deposit of foreign matter, such means being shown as consisting of a backwaidly-directed orifice 40 (Figure 8) in the lover'portion ofthe rotor casing 5 and communicating with the continuous chalinel 6 at such a position that the foreign inatter which is held in suspension during the flow, gravitates, when the How is interru ted into a sump 42 at `the lower, portion o the Y casing, and remains there untilthe sump can be cleaned out, screw 44. 1 VHaving described my invention, what I claimisz- "i e 1. Apparatusfof'the character described, comprising a casing, a pair of separate, circular, cliannelled members, secured together in said casing with their channels in opposed relation and their inner perimeters spaced apart, and together forming a continuous curved fluid channel, said casing havthrough aport 43 closed by a with said channel, said outlet being above said inlet and connected to said channel at one side of the latter, a rotor extending into thespace between the innerperimetei's of said m'embers and having varies movable in said channel-and closely iitting Withinthe latter,l and indicating means in saidl casing actuated by said rotor and located on the opposite side of said channel to the inlet ot' the latter.

2. Apparatus according to claim l having a passageway adjacent the outlet and extending from the indicator side of said channel to the outlet side of the latter.'

3. An apparatus `of the character described comprising a casing, means in said. casing forming a continuous curved channel Aand having an inlet and an outlet, a rotor having elements adapted torevolve in said channel and adapted to be acted upon by the fluid passing through said channel throughout substantially the Whole length of the latter, indicating means associated with said rotor, and float-controlled means operable when fluid is withdrawn from'said casing "to engage and lock 'one of the movable parts against action. e f

4. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a casing, a pair of complemental members secured together Within said casing andV forming a continuous 'circular channel Withan annularslot in its inner perimeter, a rotor mounted to rotate in said casing with its periphery in said slot,

vanes extending substantially tangentially to said rotor and rotatable in said channel and actuated by the How of liquid through said Y chamber, one of said members having a fluid inlet andV a Huid outlet so located With relation to one another and to said channel as to causetlieliquid admitted at said inlet to traverse substantially the Whole length of said channel, and indica-ting means associated vvith andl actuated by said rotor.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a casing,fmeans Within said casing having a front face and, a rear Wall forming a continuous curvedjchannel for the passage of fluid, `said casing having at the upper portion of its rear Walla fluid inlet `and a fluidoutlet, said inlet and outletl coin'- municatin'gwith the upper part of said channel with the outlet ad]acent to and above the inlet, a rotor having vanes adapted 4to move fin said channel and closelyfitting-within the latter, said casinghaving in the interior of its upper Vportion a groove extending rearwardly from a point adjacent its front face from the casing. i

`to'said outlet for-the escape of air, gas or Vapor 4 ing an inlet andan outlet communicating 

